Method and means for separating fluids having different characteristics.



0. s. BROWN. METHOD AND MEANS FOR SEPARATING FLUIDS HAVING DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTICS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28, 1908' 1,089,187, Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

Q ilk/mom: Snow Lion UNITE strarigsrgrnnr OFFICE.

CHARLES S. BROWN, OF NASHVILIJE, TENNESSEE.

METHOD AND MEANS FOR SEPARATING FLUIDS HAVING DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTICS.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CHARLns S. Bnowx, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Nashville, county of Davidson, and State of Tennessee. have invented a new and useful Improved Method and Means for Separating Fluids Having Dii'l'erent Characten istics, of which the following is a specification. I

The principal object of my invention is to mechanically separate fluids having different characteristics, and particularly to separate liquids and gases from vapors. By a gas, I mean an elastic fluid which is noncondensable at ordinary temperatures and pressures, such as air: by a vapor. I mean an elastic fluid which is condensable at ordi- My invention is particularly adapted for the separation of'the water of condensation and the air from the steam in a steam heating system or other steam apparatus whereby the water and air are permitted to escape therefrom without substantialloss of steam.

lily invention consists in the method and apparatus hereinafter described and set forth in the claims. a

T he accompanying drawings illustrate one form of device for carrying out my improved method, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section. 'Fig. 2 is a detail in plan, of the tube, base-plate and screen of the device shown in Fig. 1. Fig.

3 is a similar view of Fig. 2, but showing.

the screen removed. Fig. '-l is an edge view or elevation of the movable part or disk which cooperates with the base-plate. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same. F ig.'6 is a side elevation in detail. ofthe screen shown in Figs. 1 and'2. Fig. 7 is atransverse section of Fig. 6 on the line 77 looking in the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

Application filed March 23, 1908. Serial No. 422,860.

direction of the arrow. Fig. 8. shows my device applied to the discharge end of a steam radiator.

Similar characters represent like parts in all the figures. I

1 is a casinginelosing the operative parts of the device. 2 is an extension from said casing 1, screw-threaded for attachment to any apparatus in which it is desirable to separate liquids or gases from vapors or to separate fluids having difi'erent characteristics.

8 is the discharge opening which, in the device shown; includes a' pipe 4 attached by an ordinary union nut.

\Vithin the casing 1 is a tube 5, the passageway 6 of which is connected'with the passage 7 in the extension 2. Extending from said passageway 6 into the casing 1, is an outlet 8. This outlet is surrounded by a. base-plate orv fixed part 10. \Vhen my complete invention is employed this ba'se- 1 plate is provided with a raised seat 16 immediately surrounding the outlet 8, as shown in Figs. 1 2 and 3. Y

9 is a movable part shown in Figs. 1, 4: and 5 in the form of a disk, which is adapted to operate in connection With the baseplate or fixed part 10. It is obvious that the raised seat 16 may be placed upon the disk, if preferred, instead of upon the base-plate.

Any simple device may be' u'sed for preventing the movable part 9 from dropping off or getting out of place. In that form of the device shown in the drawing, the movable part is provided with a pin 11, extending into the outlet 8, and with a wire 12 extending overthe movable part 9, for holding said part. in place; the pin 11 may also serve to keep the outlet 8 clean and clear of dirt. In Fig. 3 the wire 12 is broken away so as to more clearly show the baseplate with its raised seat. This, wire 12 constitutes means for limiting the distance to which the movable part 9 can move away from the plate 1.0 and thus prevents the part 9 from moving outside of the zone of influence or operation of the fluids tending to escape. I

13 is a screen extending into the passage 7 and to the passageway 6 to prevent dirtbeing carried into the passageway 6.

In order to provide a simple and ready means for the changing or removal or renewal of the difi'erent parts of the" device, the upper part of casing 1 is made in the form of a removable cap 14 secured to the lower part of the casing. The portion of the tube 5 that is nearest or adjacent to the passage 7, is attached by a screw thread 15 to the'extension 2, and the screen 13, which is soldered or permanently 'fastened to the tube 5, extends into said passage 7. The above described construction will permit the device to be readily applied whenever it may be desired, and in any position, to any apparatus for which it may be intended; and it can readily be seen that the operative parts may be easily removed or replaced at a moments notice.

My invention is particularly adapted for use in a steam heating system for draining off the waterof condensation, and also removing the air, while practically preventing the discharge or loss of steam. In such case the extension 2 is connected with the discharge pipe or opening of the heater or radiator or system, and the discharge opening of the device is connected with the main disvapor will enter the passageway 6 from the charge pipe. Such a construction is illustrated in Fig. S wherein a is the outlet of the radiator b, and the'extension 2 is connected with a, and the discharge opening 3 of the device is adapted to be connected with the main discharge pipe. \Vhen steam is supplied to the radiator, water will flow into the passage 7 in the direction of the arrow, see Fig. 1, and said water will pass freely through the screen 13 and the passageway 6 and outlet 8, and between the plate 10 and the disk 9,-and then pass through the opening 3 to the discharge pipe. The space between the plate 10 and disk 9 constitutes a passage for the escape of fluids, the outlet 8 from the passageway 6 being an inlet to the passage betweefi said plate and disk. lrVhatever air is in the radiator, or collects therein from time to time, will tend to flow to the valve and when it reaches the same will flow out through the passages 6 and 8 and through the passage between the disk and plate. As, soon as the water and air have passed through the outlet 8, the steam or passageway 7 through the screen 13, but will be held back and prevented from escaping in any substantial quantity by the movable part or disk 9,'acting in conjunction with the hase-plate 10. Steam under practical conditions always contains some air or gas, and as this fluid tends to flow from the outlet 8, the escaping portion of the fluid is forced to spread out in a thin film in the passage between the base plate 10 and the partial vacuum or decreased pressure be tween those parts, and tending to cause theart 9 to move toward the plate 10, or tend- 1ng to hold it against said plate so as to practically prevent the flow of steam. When .zater again reaches the outlet 8, the water will cause the part 9 to move away from the base-plate 10 and thus permit the discharge. of the water. When air flows to the outlet 8, it will also escape as already stated.

I have discovered that when liquids, gases and vapors, such as water, air and steam,

.10 close enough to prevent the discharge of the water or the air, and to the fact that when the fluid mixture of steam and air or gas tends to flow between these same parts,

such a reduction of pressure between the plate and the disk will be produced or maintained that the disk will be held so close to the plate as to prevent the loss of any sub- 5 stantial amount of steam. It will be observed that this result is brought about by providing or employing a passage of rapidly increasing area and thereby varying the pressure in said passage according to the nature of the fluid flowing therethrough, I and causing the passage to be controlled by said variation in pressure. The disk or movable part 9 is so arranged that it is adapted to be operated by the pressure-in this passage of rapidly increasing area, so as to co'ntrol said passage. The flow of each of these .fluids through the said passage is more or less forcibly restrained according to its properties or characteristics,- the variations of the restraining influence being due to the action of the respective fluids. v I11 the best form of my invention the fluids are caused to flow through a central orifice, and then through a passage extend- 1 5 ing radially from said orifice and thereby increasing rapidly in area. In this way the fluids are caused to spread out in athin annular or radial film. The orifice is surrounded by a plate and, in the best form of the invention, a raised seat is provided surrounding the orifice, and a movable part is employed which is adapted to move toward or against the plate or seat and thereby to control or close the orifice. The areas of the orifice. the plate, the seat and the movable part should be so proportioned relatively to one another and to the pressure of the fluids to be separated, as to cause the movable part movable part 9, producing or maintaining a to be held away from the seat sufliciently to toward the seat as soon as steam reaches the outlet. This is due to the fact that the passage between the disk and the plate increases in area very suddenly beyond the outer edge of the seat, and thereby permits the freer discharge of the water after it passes the seat, and also permits a greater velocity or expansion of the escaping portion of the fluid mixture ofsteam and air or gas, there;

by causing a greater reduction of pressure between the disk and the plate, which causes the disk to be more forcibly pressed toward the plate.

In the accompanying drawings v I have shown the various parts of the device in such proportions as I have found to be well adapted to carry out the method herein described and to produce the results set forth. I have found that a ,device made in these proportions, when applied to the discharge end of a radiator, will permit the free escape of water of condensation and of air, but will prevent the escape of any substantial amount of steam, and that it will do so although the pressure of the steam-in the radiator may be varied between wide limits. I have found that a device in these proportions will operate successfully with steam at a pressure in the radiator oi anywhere between about three pounds below atmos- .be separated thereby.

ever, that the area of the orifice should be,

phere, and about five pounds above atmosphere. In the device as illustrated in the drawings, thediameter of the orifice 8 is one-eighth of an inch. The raised seat around the orifice has a width of'one-sixteenth of an inch. The diameter of the baseplate 10. and of the disk 9 is one inch. It will be seen that the plate and the 'disk are of inuch greater diameter than the outlet. The dimensions of these various parts may be varied within wide limits, according to the pressure to be employed in the apparatus with which the device is connected, and according to the character of the fluids to It is essential, howvery small in comparison with the area of the disk and plate. lVhile the relation between these two areas may be varied according to the nature of the fluids which are be ing separated, it is essential that the areaof the plate and disk should be suificiently great relative to the areas of the orifice to cause the disk to be moved away from the plate when one of the fluids is flowiitig through the orifice so as to permit that fluid to escape, but to cause the disk to be moved or held against the plate when the other fluid reaches the orifice so that the prevented.

escape of the latter fluid is substantially The use of the screen 13 prevents any dirt or scale which may accumulate in the radiator, from passing into the tube 5 or the outlet 8, or choking said passages.

The apparatus is very simple in construction and can be readily and economically made. including the screen 13, can be readily fitted into any form of easing or apparatus, and be easily removed or renewed or cleaned.

I do not limit myself to the precise defrom the spirit of my invention, or sacri-v ficing its principal advantages.

The tube 5 and its connectedparts, 8.0

'vice herein described and -shown for the What I claim as new and des ire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The method of separating fluids having different characteristics, which consists in causing them to flow into a passage of increasing area, thereby producing a pressure in said passage according to the expansion or velocity of said fluids, and causing said passage to be controlled by the pressure therein, whereby one fluid is permitted to escape but the escape of another fluid is substantially prevented.

'2. The method of separating fluids having different characteristics, which consists in causing them to flow through a central orifice, and then through a passage extending radially from said orifice and increasing rapidly in area, thereby varying the pressure in said passageand causing said variation 1n pressure to operate a movable device and thereby control said passage, whereby one or more fluids" are permitted to escape but the escape of another fluid is substantially prevented.

3. The method of separating fluids having difl'erent characteristics, -which consists in causing them to flow through an orifice, and

then to spread out in a thin film seas to vary- I the pressure in said film, and thereby calls v mg said variation in pressure to operate a movable device and thereby control said orifice whereby one or more fluids are per mitted to escape'but' the escape of another, fluid is substantially prevented.

4. Themetho-d of separating fluids having different characteristics, which 'consists in causing them to flow into a passage of increasing area, and causing the pressure in said passage to be varied by the different action of the respective fluids, and causing this variation of pressure to operate a movable part by such variation of pressure in difierent characteristics, which consists in causing them to flow in a passage of rapidly increasing area, thereby varying the prespart and plate, and to cause the movable part to be moved toward the plate when sure in said passage, and causing the variat on in pressure ,to operate a movable part so as to control the passage, whereby one or more fluids are permitted to escape but the escape of another fluid is substantially prevented. 15"

'6. The method of separating fluids having different characteristics, which consists in causing them to flow through a central orificeand then through a passage extending radially from said orifice and increasing rapidly in area, thereby varying the pressure in said passage, and causing the variation in pressure to operate a movable part so as to control the passage, whereby one of the fluids will be expanded in said passage so as to reduce the pressure and cause the passage to be substantially closed, while another fluid will increase the pressure in said passage and thereby open the passage, and permit the escape of said fluid.

7. The method of separating fluids having difi'erent characteristics, which, consists in causing the fluids to flow through an orifice, and then between a surrounding .plate and a movable part adapted to move toward or against the plate and to control or close the orifice, the areas of the orifice, plate and movable part, being so proportioned relatively to one another, as to cause the movable part to be held away from the plate when one fluid is flowing between the movable another fluid tends to flow between said movable part adapted to move toward or against the plate to control or close the orifice, one of said parts being provided with a raised seat surrounding said orifice, the areas of the orifice, seat, plate and movable part being so proportioned'relatively to one another, as to cause the movable part to be held away from the plate when one fluid is flowing between the movable part and the plate. and to cause the movable part to be moved toward the plate when another fluid tends to flow between said parts. p

9. The method of separating water or air from steam, which consists in causing the water or air and steam to flow into a passage of increasing area, and causing the pressure in said passage to operate a movable part so as to control the passage, whereby when the steam reaches the saidpassage the pressure therein will cause the movable part to substantially close the passage against the steam.

10. The method of separating water or air from steam, which consists in causing the water or air and steam to flow through a central orifice, and then through or into a passage extending radially from said orifice and increasing. rapidly in area, and causing the pressure in said passage to operate a movable part so as to control the passage, whereby the water or air will escape through said passage, but, when the steam reaches said passage, the pressure therein will cause the movable part to substantially close the passage against the steam.

11 The method of separating water or air from steam, which consists in causin the water or air and steam to flow through a central'orifice, and then causing the water or air to spread out in a thin radial film between a surrounding plate and a movable disk adapted to move toward the plate whereby the water or air will flow between said plate and disk and escape, and causing sufficient steam to flow between said plate and disk to reduce the pressure between the same and to thereby cause said disk to be held so close to the plate as to substantially prevent the escape of steam.

12. The improved means for separating fluids having diflerent characteristics which consists of the combination of a device for holding or supplying said fluids provided with a small outlet for said fluids, a plate surrounding said outlet, a movable part adapted to move toward or away from said plate, and forming between it and said plate anarrow passage, the area of the movable part and plate being so much greater than the area of the outlet. that the pressure between said movable part and the plate will be varied according to the nature of the fluid in said assage', and the movable part will be movec away from said plate by one' fluid so as to permit that fluid to escape, but will be held substantially against said plate by another fluid so as to prevent any substantial amount of that fluid from escaping. 13. The improved means for separating fluids having different characteristics whic consists of-the combination of a device for holding or supplying said fluids provided with a small outlet for said fluids, a plate surrounding said outlet, a movable part adapted to move toward or away from said plate, and forming between it and said plate a narrow passage, one of said parts being provided with a raised seat surrounding the outlet, the area of the movable part according to the nature of the fluid in said passage, and the movable part will be moved away from'said plate by one iiuid so as to permit that fluid to escape, but will beheld substantially against said plate bv another fluid so as to prevent any substantial amount of that fluid from escaping.

1%. The improved means for separating i'luids having different characteristics which consists of the combination of a device for holding or supplying said fluids provided with a small outlet for said tluids. a plate surrounding said outlet of much greater diameter than the outlet, a. movable disk of much greater diameter than the outlet adapted to move toward or away from said plates-o as to control said outlet, and forming between it and said plate, when open, a narrow annular passage, the area of the disk and plate being so much greater than the area of the outlet that the pressure between said disk and plate will be varied according to the nature of the fluid in said passage, and

the disk will be moved away from said plate by one fluid so as to permit that fluid to escape, but will be held substantially against said plate by another fluid so as to prevent any substantial amount of that fluid "from escaping. U

15. The improved means for separating iiuids having different characteristics which consists of the tube 5, having the passageway 6 provided with the outlet 8, the disk 9 adapted to control said outlet and the plate 10, the area of the disk and plate being so much greater than the area of the outlet 8 that the pressure between the disk and plate will be varied according to the nature of the fiuid between said disk and plate, and the disk will be moved away from said plate by one fluid so as to permit that fluid to escape, but will be held substantially against said plate by another fluid so as to prevent any substantial amount of that fluid from escaping, substantially as set forth.

16. The improved means for separating fluids having dillerent characteristics which consists of thestube 5 provided with the outlet 8, the disk 9 adapted to control said outlet, the plate 10, and means to prevent the disk 9 from moving outside of the zone of influence of said fluids, the area of the disk and plate being so much greater than the area of the outlet 8 that the pressure between the disk and plate will be varied according to the nature of the fluid between said disk. and plate. and the disk will be moved away from said'plate by one fluid so as to. permit that fluid to escape, but will beheld substantially against said plate by another fluid so as to prevent any substan- ,ti al amount of that fluid from escaping,

substantially as set tort-h.

17. The improved means for separating 9 adapted to control ll'uids having different characteristics which consists of the tube 5, having the passageway u provided with the outlet 8, the disk said outlet, the pin 11, and'the plate 10,..the area of the disk and plate being sogm'uch greater than the area of the outlet 8 that the pressure between the disk and plate will be varied according to. the nature of the, liuid between said disk Y and plate, and the disk will be moved away from'said plate by one liuid so as to permit that fluid to escape. but will be held substantially against said plate by another fluid so as to prevent any substantial amount of that fluid from escaping, substantially as set forth. v

18. The improved means for separating fluids having dil'l'crent characteristics which consists of the tube 5, having the passageway (3 provided with the outlet 8; the disk 9 adapted to control said outlet, the pin 11, the plate 10, and the holder 12, the area of the disk and plate being so much greater than the area of the outlet 8 that the pressure between the disk and plate will be varied according to the nature of the fluid between said disk and plate, and the idiskwill he moved away from said plate by one" fluid so as to permit that fluid to escape, but will be held substantially againstsaid plate by another fluid so as toprevent any'substantial amount of that fluid from escaping,

substantially as set forth.

19. The improved means for separating the water and air from the steam in a steam apparatus which consists of a suitabledevice adapted to be attached to said apparatus having the outlet 8, the disk 9 adapted to control said outlet and the plate 10, the

area of the disk and plate being so much greater than the area-of the outlet 8 that the pressure between the disk and plate will be varied according to the nature of the fluid between said disk and plate. and the .disk will be moved away from said plate by the water and the air so as to permit the water andthe air to escape, but will beheld substantially against said plate by the steam so as to prevent any substantial amount of steam from escaping.

'20. The improved means for separating the water and air from the steam in a steam apparatus which consists of the tube 5. having the passageway 6 providedwith the outlet 8, the screen 13. the disk 9 adapted to control said outlet. the plate 10. means for holding the disk in place, and a suitable casing to hold said parts, the area of the disk and plate being so much greater than the area of the outlet 8 that the pressure between the disk and plate will be varied according to the nature of the fluid between I forming between it and said plate, when the air to escape, but will he held substantially against said )lute by the steam so as :I to prevent any substantial amount of steam from escaping.

21. In a steam heating system, the combination with a radiator or heater, provided with a small outlet and with a discharge passage for the discharge of water or air having an increasing area leading from said outlet, and a movable part adapted to be moved by variations in pressure in said passage so as to control the passage, the area of the movable part being so much greater than the area of the outlet that the pressure" in the discharge passage will be varied according to the nature of the fluid in said passage, and the movable part wi e on aid passage so as to permit th or air, but will close l prevent any substantial from escaping. I

22. In a steam heating system, the combination with a radiator or heater, provided with a small outlet for the discharge of water and air, of a plate surrounding said outlet, a mo *able part forming between it and said plate a narrow passage, and adapted to be moved toward or away from said plate by variations in pressure in said passage, the area of the movable part and plate-being so much greaterthan the area of the outlet that the pressure between said movable part and plate will be varied ac-- cording to the nature of the fluid in said passage, and the mo vable part will be moved away from-said plate so as to permit the air and water to escape through said passage, but will be held substantially against said plate by the steam so as to prevent any substantial amount of steam from escaping.

23. In a steam heating system, the combi nation with a radiator or heater, provided with a small outlet for the discharge of water and air, of a plate surrounding said outlet of much greater diameter than the outlet, a movable disk ofmuch greater diameter than the outlet adapted to move toward or away from said plateso as to control said outlet, and

stll

open, a narrow annular passage, the area of the disk and plate being so much greater than the area of the outlet that the pressure between said disk and plate will be varied according to the nature of the fluid in said passage, and the disk will be moved away from said plate by the. air and the water so as to permit the air and the water to escape, but will be held substantially against said plate by the steam soas to prevent any substantial amount of steam from escapin 2-1. In a steam heating system,-the combination with a radiator or heater, ofithe tube 5, having the passageway 6, and the outlet 'stantially as set forth.

8, the disk 9, adapted to control said outlet and to be operated by variations of pressure between the deli and the plate 10, and the plate 10, the area of the disk and plate being so much greater than the area of the outlet that the pressure between said disk and plate will be varied accori'ling to the nature of the fluid between said disk and plate, and the disk will be moved away from said plate by the air and water so as to permit the air and water to e cape, but will be held substantially against said plate by the steam so as to prevent any substantial amount of steam from escaping, sub- 25. In a steam heating systei'n, the combination with a radiator or heater, of the tube 5, having the passageway 6, and the outlet 0, the disk 9 adapted to control said outlet and to be operated by variations of pressure between the disk and the plate 10, the plate 10, and the raised seat 16, the area of the disk and time being so much greater than the area of the outlet that the pressure between said disk and plate will be varied according to the'nature of the fluidbetween said disk and plate, and the disk will be moved away from said plate by the air and water so as to permit the air and water to escape, but will be held substan tially against said plate by the steam so as to prevent any substantial amount of steam.

tronr escaping, substantially as set forth.

26. In a steam heating system, the combination with a radiator or heater of the tube 5, having the passageway 6, and the outlet 8, the disk 9 adapted to control said outlet and to be operated by variations of pressure between the disk and the late 10, the plate 10, and means for hol ing the disk in place, the area of the disk'and' late being so much greater than the area 0 the outlet that the pressure between said disk and plate will be varied ,accordin to the nature of the fluid between said isk and plate, and the disk will be moved away from said plate by the air and water so as to permit the air and water to escape, but will be held substantially against said plate by the steam so as to prevent any substantial bination with a radiator or heater 0f the tube 5, having the passageway 6, and the outlet 8, the disk 9 adapted to control outlet and to be operated by variations of pressure between the, disk and the plate 10,

the plate 10, the pin 11, and the holder 12,

the area of the disk and plate being so much greater than the area of the outlet that the pressure betweensaid disk and plate will be varied according to the nature of the fluid between said disk and plate, and the disk will be moved away from said plate by the air and water so as to permit the air and water to eswpe, but willbe held substantially against said plate by the steam so as to prevent any substantial amount of -steam from escaping, substantially as set' forth.

28. The improved means for separating fluids having different characteristics which Y consists of the tube 5 having the passageway 6, and the outlet 8, the disk 9 adapted to control said outlet, the plate 10, andthe raised seat 16, the area of the disk and plate being so much greater than the area of the outlet that the pressure between said disk and plate will be varied according to the nature of the fluid between said disk and plate, and the disk will be moved away from said plate by onefluid so as to permit that 'fluid to escape, butwill be held substan- 'tially'against' said plate by another fluid so as to prevent any substantial amount of that fluid from escaping, substantially as set forth.

29. Ina steam heating system, the combination with a radiator or heater of the tube 5, having the passageway 6 provided. with the outlet 8, the disk 9 adapted to control ,said outlet and'to be operated by variations of pressure between the disk and the plate 1-0, the plate 10, add the screen 13, the area of the disk and plate being so much greater than the area of the outlet that the pressure between said disk and plate will be varied according to the nature of the fluid Copies of this patent may he obtained (or between said disk and plate, and the disk will be moved-away from said plate by the "air and water so as to permit the air and water to escape, but will be held substantially against said plate by the steam so as to prevent any substantial amount of steam from escaping, substantially as set forth.

moved away from said plate when air or water flow between the same so as to permit air and water to escape, but will be drawn toward said plate when steam tends to flow between the disk and the plate so as to substantially check the escape of steam.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES sQnnow-u Witnesses FRANK WQCHAPPELL, JOHN H. LAWRENCE.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Ifatents, Washington, D. 0. 

